Motherwell 2, Dundee Utd 2
| Match Date: Saturday, January 12 2002 |
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| Competition: Scottish Premier League | |
| Attendance: 4,631 | |
| Motherwell Team (3-5-2): |
Woods, Ready, Deloumeaux, Strong, Soloy, Lasley, Leitch (Martinez 82), Pearson, Hammell,
McFadden (Nicholas 89), Elliott.
Subs not used: Brown, Forrest, Ramsay
Motherwell scorers: McFadden (51), Hammell (80).
Yellow Cards: McFadden.
WELL IN THE BLACK WITH HAMMY
Motherwell 2 Dundee United 0
MAN-OF-THE-MOMENT JAMES MCFADDEN Set Motherwell on the way to their second win in four days. It was a debut goal for Stevie Hammel which sealed the win and the young defender will rarely score a better goal than his volley late on.
The Fir Parkers picked up where they left off against the other half of Dundee on Wednesday and were right on the attack. A great Elliott pass sent McFadden scurrying away and his progress was brought to a halt by the rash challenge of Lauchlan. The free kick, played into Pearson by Lasley was blocked for a corner which was in turn met by Elliott; however, he saw his effort turned behind by Aljofree. This time the ball was met by Ready who sent the effort wide. A minute later Pearson's' lay-off gave Hammel the chance to run at the defence and the rasping shot was well held by Gallacher. Obstruction on Elliott by Lauchlan went unnoticed as the Northern Irish International attempted to make the most of Pearson's' ball. The visitors then made a foray upfield with Easton crossing only for Hammel to knock behind. Easton met the corner and saw his shot blocked and cleared by Leitch. A clever move involving Hammel and Elliott resulted in the latter crossing low, Aljofree having to put behind under pressure from McFadden.
Shortly afterwards Elliott set up McFadden and he sent a vicious curler inches pas the far post. It was mostly Motherwell but an error from Strong almost gifted the lead to the visitors. He was woefully short with an attempted header back to Woods allowing Hamilton to nip in but with only the Keeper to beat he could only make the side netting. Motherwell almost made United pay when Deloumeaux had a forward ball flicked on by Lasley into the path of McFadden and the first-time lob went only an inch or so past the upright. Hammel then set up Lasley whose first-time effort was gathered low down. Stephen Pearson possesses a great engine and he put this to good use by making a lung-bursting run through the middle. Making the box his shot was well held by Gallacher though Pearson perhaps would have been better served supplying Elliott clear to the left. There should have been yellow for Hannah when he was late on Leitch but only a talking too was the order from Referee Brown. The ball was swung in and Elliott's header looked to have struck the hand of Hannah though play continued. A yellow was shown to Lilley when he was almost a fortnight late with a tackle on Deloumeaux. A few moments later McFadden was then booked though the reasons for this remain a mystery. McFadden shrugged this off and wasn't far away with steering Hammel's cross toward goal. Right on half time an error from Lauchlan, coupled with Elliott's tackling, gave McFadden a chance but he saw the shot from 25 yards out comfortably dealt with.
Half-Time Motherwell 0 Dundee United 0
It didn't take Motherwell long to make their pressure count in the second half as they took an early lead with a well-taken finish. Pearson was body-checked by McCunnie giving Motherwell the free kick 25 yards out. Elliott drove the ball in low and McFadden brilliantly flicked the ball past Gallacher into the net. United tried to hit back with Easton whose shot, after a cross from Aljofree, was saved by Woods. United then forced a corner when Leitch blocked the cross from Carson, the visitors taking advantage of the break in play to take Paterson off in place of McIntyre. What looked like a fair challenge by Deloumeaux on Lilley was deemed an offence by Referee Brown and United had a free kick out wide though Greg Strong sent this well downfield. Motherwell attacked but with McFadden clear Pearson couldn't control the ball and the chance was gone. It was almost two soon after, however, and it was down to the craft of McFadden. He should superb skill to flick over McCunnie and then cross deep where Elliott headed towards goal only for Gallacher to make a stunning point-blank save to turn the ball over. Strong flicked the ball on and there was Ready who volleyed the ball inches past the far post.
The visitors then made another change; Carson replaced by Miller much to the displeasure of the Motherwell support. It was still Motherwell who looked more likely and a Leitch/Pearson combination gave an opportunity to Hammel whose 25-yard angled drive drifted only just over the bar. Miller, hardly on the park, should have been booked for a shockingly late lunge at Lasley but he escaped a card which soon after was to become important. Elliott teed up the ball for Lasley who recovered to drive past. An obscene gesture by Miller to the Motherwell support, done in front of the East Standside linesman went unnoticed though the Fir Park support certainly let Miller know about it. A third change by the visitors involved the replacing of Hamilton with Thompson. The same shortsighted linesman then guessed wrongly as he raised the flag to prevent McFadden going clear onto Hammel's pass. A throw in to United fell kindly for McIntyre but he drove way wide as United struggled to make any headway. Motherwell retained the upper hand and could have had a penalty when Strong saw his shot clearly come off the arm of Hannah. The ball fell for Elliott and his shot was superbly turned round by Gallacher. Clever connecting with Soloy and Lasley had the latter cross deflected off Aljofree but not so thought the Linesman who gave a goal kick instead of the corner. The visitors screamed for a penalty when Miller slid a pass through the middle for McIntyre to run on to and as Deloumeaux came in the United man went down like a sack of spuds.
Miller was then at last booked when he made another cynical hack, this time on Hammel, though this was every bit as bad a his effort on Lasley earlier. A kick by Lilley as Strong ran past also went without incident. With 12 minutes to go Motherwell sealed the win with a great goal. The fir Parkers strung passes together, Strong, McFadden, Lasley, Soloy all being involved before McFadden's cross was headed partially out by Easton into the path of Hammel and from 16 yards out he volleyed home spectacularly. McFadden then turned Wright brilliantly though the defender got back to block for a corner. Motherwell then took Leitch off to replace him with Martinez. The visitors did attempt to attack but most final balls were either poor or cleared easily. At the other end Wright had to be alert to stop Elliott connecting with Soloy's pass. Thompson of United then had a rare chance but his effort was easily held as Woods went down to save. McFadden then left to a great round of applause, Nicholas taking his place. After Lilley and then Hammel had shots go past only a great tip round the post from Woods, diving to turn round the shot from Thompson, kept the clean sheet with the full time whistle going soon afterwards.
Full time Motherwell 2 Dundee United 0
Match Report by Ricky Mullen